Tucked between the small rocky hillocks, Gaya is the most venerated Buddhist pilgrimage destination in India. The city rises on the banks of river Phalgu. Named after the mythological demon Gayasur, the son of Tripurasura, it was once the part of the great ancient kingdom of Magadha. Gaya finds its mention in the Mahabharata, Naradiya, Varaha, Garuda, Vayu Puranas, Varaha and Kurma. It is believed the Lord Rama visited Gaya with his wife Sita to perform ceremonies for his father, Dasharath. Gaya has many Hindu temples and Buddhist temples that are visited by countless pilgrims. Just 13 km from Gaya is the sacred village, Bodhgaya that is known for the Mahabodhi temple and the Bodhi tree. It is the place where young Siddhartha attained the supreme enlightenment after years of penance under the shade of a Peepal tree and became Lord Gautama Buddha.
The peaceful town of Gaya allures many domestic as well as international tourists who come to explore Buddhist sites and learn various meditation techniques. There is a wide selection of accommodation options in Gaya. Scattered all over the city, Gaya has no shortage of cheap and comfortable accommodation. The budget hotels in Gaya provide clean and spacious rooms with basic amenities like attached bathrooms, round the clock room service, colour television, telephone etc. In addition to economy hotels, Gaya also boasts handful of plush and opulent hotels. The rooms of these hotels are large and immaculate and the décor is elegant, with traditional furniture. Equipped with state of art facilities, the mid range hotels and deluxe hotels in Gaya house good restaurants which serve delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare. The well-stocked bars in Gaya hotels offer wide variety of cocktails and mock tails. The hotels in Gaya also have business centers and meditation center where you can learn various Buddhist meditating techniques. The tour and travel desk of Gaya hotels organize sightseeing tours and pilgrim trips to Bodhgaya and other nearby pilgrim destinations. |
